It's that time of year where I give you a tirade of what I've been enjoying this year, going over my top 40 songs of the year and occasionally some other bonus materials in perhaps too much detail, and this year, I've been really quite on it with music at least in my 6Music/Apple Music circles so I've got a lot to say...

 

...Only I'm not really gonna say it as for whatever reason, I just don't have the energy this year :x it may be that I've had a fairly tough year personally or just general fatigue of starting these after so many years and while music has certainly helped with that, it's the sort I'd rather just process internally rather than talk about it. Yet, there were some truly great finds that I really want to at least highlight, so I'm going to post 11-50 of my singles, top 10 of albums and films in the next post and do a commentary for the top 10, as I did feel bad abandoning something I've been working on for thirteen years now. Whether I'll have more energy next year or whether this is a nice economic way of doing this as I get older remains to be seen but hope you enjoy anyway x

 

Comments are as always welcome, I may not respond to them all but I read and appreciate all of them and will try and poke my head into a few other threads in here as well x

 

Info-dump on the way.

Can't wait for this.

 

Top 5 Albums

 

1. Billie Eilish – HIT ME HARD & SOFT

2. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD

3. Charli XCX – Brat/Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat

4. Father John Misty – Mahashmashana

5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Wild God

 

Just missing out: Beyonce - Cowboy Carter and The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy

 

As much as I've loved delving into Godspeed You! Black Emperor's back catalogue in the latter part of the year, I can't pinpoint a specific song I'd highlight that stands out, it works better as an experience, therefore no songs will feature in the countdown.

 

 

Top 20 Films

 

1. Poor Things

2. The Zone of Interest

3. Monster

4. The Beast

5. Anora

6. Sing Sing

7. Dune Part 2

8. Perfect Days

9. The Wild Robot

10. The Substance

11. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

12. I Saw the TV Glow

13. Conclave

14. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

15. The Holdovers

16. Challengers

17. All of Us Strangers

18. Heretic

19. Longlegs

20. Hundreds of Beavers

 

Sidenote: I have a letterboxd account (FriendlyOwl) which I'm hoping to start making more use of from next year if you're interested in following where I may share some more thoughts to the void B-)

 

 

Singles 11-40

 

11. The Cure – Alone

12. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory – Afterlife

14. James K – Blinkmoth (July Mix)

16. Kite feat. Anna Von Hausswolff – Losing

17. Caroline Polachek feat. Weyes Blood – Butterfly Net

18. Billie Eilish – CHIHIRO

19. Ariana Grande – We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)

20. Arab Strap – Bliss

21. Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso

22. Father John Misty – I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All

23. Echoberyl – Weird Boy

24. English Teacher – R&B

25. Vampire Weekend – Capricorn

26. Bambie Thug – Doomsday Blue

27. Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us

28. Allie X – Black Eye

30. Beyonce – 16 CARRIAGES

31. Tyler, the Creator – Noid

32. Ultra 5 feat. J Cee – Potion (Lange Remix)

33. Chappell Roan – Good Luck Babe!

34. Vitesse X – Eternal

35. Spirits Unbridled – Descent Into Despair

36. Charli XCX – Von Dutch

37. FKA Twigs – Eusexua

40. The Libertines – Merry Old England

41. Jamie xx feat. Robyn – Life

42. JADE – Angel of my Dreams

45. ABU NEIN – Wir Leben

46. Mogwai – Lion Rumpus

47. Sadness – I Want to Be With You

48. Pet Shop Boys - Loneliness

49. Public Service Broadcasting – Electra

50. Baby Lasagna – Rim Tim Tagi Dim

 

I've linked to a few that I feel are less well known that I would encourage you to check out x

 

Giving Cry for me a listen given you linked it - sounding quite nice musically, and the lyrics are certainly quite interesting to read through! Nice to see I Want to Be With You and Rim Tim Tagi Dim making inroads as well.

Glad you've still posted your top 50 singles - my favourites from 11-50, if I haven't added comments, it'll appear in my 2024 EOY thread as well *.*

 

The Cure – Alone

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory – Afterlife

Kite feat. Anna Von Hausswolff – Losing: one of many great Terra Avium entries this year

Billie Eilish – CHIHIRO

Ariana Grande – We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)

Echoberyl – Weird Boy :cheer:

Vampire Weekend – Capricorn

Allie X – Black Eye: made my EOY top 100 last year and it's still the best I've heard from her, fabulous 80s throwback production

Vitesse X – Eternal: I knew this pre-BJSC, excellent to see it finish in the medals

FKA Twigs – Eusexua

JADE – Angel of my Dreams: such a smart pop song, more like that please

Thanks for commenting/listening!

 

I guess a miserable, rainy New Years Day is a good place to start this x

 

 

10. Bat For Lashes - The Dream of Delphi

 

It's been a while since I've heard from Bat For Lashes (2009/early 2010s to put it clearer, which feels further away every day x), while I never properly explored her work, I did really like what I knew of her work. I'm not sure I'd have found The Dream of Delphi if it wasn't on a recommended Apple playlist, and I'm very pleased I did as this is quite stunning and really deserved more attention this year. Natasha's vocals haven't lost any of their ethereal and other-worldly feel, they are the centrepiece that help to guide the song to dreamy horizons as the quiet synths and beat builds with each verse, before closing with some lovely strings. Coincidentally, I have another favourite called

by the new age band, Cusco. I'm not sure if it's the mythical, dream-like feel that matches the sacred myth that always gives these Delphi songs such a beautiful, heartwarming feel but I guess there's something about that title. That's a tangential way of saying this is great and you should check it out (Cusco as well x)

 

9. Roxanne de Bastion – UV

 

Not sure what it is about that name that appeals to me...B-) This is certainly one that remains quite firmly under the radar (a number of it's 121 views are probably me!) and had I not heard it by chance that one morning on 6Music, I wouldn't know it at all. I did want to shout it out as it was a really late standout song in 2024 for me. It's got a lovely melody to its chorus and her vocals are filled with a sense of quiet power that are never overbearing, and the piano eventually builds into a colourful instrumental array as it progresses, but it is the lyrics that stand out as well. The theme of the song and the EP was described by Roxanne as 'voicing the unsaid and about shedding light. It can be interpreted on both a personal, as well as on a societal level'. This song likens women in the music industry as being an ultraviolet light - invisible to the human eye but vital - and it makes lines like the need of a blacklight to make things clearer and the need of a change. It's the sort of subtle social commentary that I really like and makes songs stand out that bit more to just being well produced, contrasting slightly with the vibrant production and matching the quiet power of the vocals. A certain other song still to come continues that theme x

 

8. Fat Dog – King of the Slugs

 

My favourite discovery from BJSC last year and one of two of my 18 pointers that actually won (and myself, not a bad year for winners x). The charmingly titled King of the Slugs by Fat Dog is an epic, brash, energetic and constantly changing song that is instantly memorable, you can really see how the group won some attention so quickly. Starting off with pounding synths and a brash vocal style, it didn't really need to do much else to be so memorable but throughout it's seven minutes, it also manages to gradually evolve, as if it is a stream of consciousness of the tormented protagonist, it drops to a slower pace before some fierce guitars return and that intensity is just as fierce at the opening. Containing middle eastern, Americana, punk and psychedelic elements littered throughout I might have stole that from a YouTube comment, it's a true smorgasbord of creativity and intensity that does give you hope that musicians willing to really switch things up are being recognised (well by Buzzjack and 6Music x).

 

7. Charli XCX feat. Lorde – Girl, So Confusing

 

I may be more than a little out of touch with Gen Z viral trends (maybe I'm too demure...I'm still doing wrong aren't I?), but Brat summer was something I can get behind. The Brat phenomenon was great to see, for me personally as it's the first Charli album I've heard and while her style can fall onto the side of trash pop I'm not so into, the critical acclaim doesn't speak for nothing and I'm glad I got to see a good reason for it this album. It was hard to pick a highlight, they are just really energetic, fun pop-dance songs that don't sacrifice creativity, honesty and experimentation, the sonic diversity particularly highlighted when she remade the album in different styles! I think Girl, So Confusing works though as it really has pretty much all the qualities as above - to put it frankly, it's a banger and a half, it's lyrics feel thoughtful and authentic and the remix from Lorde with her additional meta verse really add a knowing feel to it that also subtly comments on how girls (especially feuding ones) can become internet famous. Smart, honest and danceable, this is a song to represent Brat's themes in the best way.

 

6. Nia Archives – Silence is Loud

 

90s Breakbeat style sounds will always be my catnip so Nia Archives choosing that as her brand meant she was always going to be someone I was going to be interested to explore further. Crowded Roomz was a great introduction, I always find lyrics with drum'n'bass can add a real sense of urgency and repeated lonely refrains really complement the frantic production well. Silence is Loud though takes things up a notch, the vocals are limited to a single line and are heavily overshadowed and distorted this time but the production is ramped up with blaring synths and drums coming from all angles, creating something truly intensive which is not dissimilar with 90s Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy, it really works beautifully and great to see some action in a dance genre that is less active these days.

 

5. Linkin Park – The Emptiness Machine/Heavy is the Crown

 

I'm going to cop out a little bit with this selection, as I'm not sure which one I prefer ultimately, yet I do feel I have the same sentiments towatds them both - that being how Linkin Park pulled off a comeback so great! Linkin Park were one of my favourite bands growing up and Chester's sudden death was one of the celebrity deaths I've been saddest about in recent memory. That could well have been the end, and I'm sure to many fans it was and they would be outraged by getting a new lead singer, yet I'm of the view that sometimes you have to carry on in the face of tragedy and in the case of a band that I was ready to consign to my childhood, their two songs really give them a new lease of life. Emily Armstrong may be...controversial in some ways, but she really fits in brilliantly in The Emptiness Machine, as it is a song that is instantly so like them yet she doesn't try purposefully to be like Chester, something I'd sense another male singer would've struggled with. Where Emptiness... was more Minutes to Midnight and onwards, Heavy is the Crown is very much classic Meteora era and has a likeness to Faint, with Shinoda's rapping and an intense chorus, and it did hype me up for Arcane Season 2 stream it x. Overall, probably one of the most impressive comebacks I've seen in recent years and seeing them rewarded with charts hits was a nice cherry on top.

yay for Fat Dog and Linkin Park here!

 

Fat Dog were brilliant live, I'm sure LP would be too but their tickets are a lot more expensive lol

I briefly considered them live, but would be a shame when I never saw them with Chester and indeed the price is big x

 

Sorry for the pause, picking up now x

 

-x-

 

 

4. TV Girl & George Clacton – Summer 2000 Baby

 

Unquestionably, this year's summer anthem for me. I liked the little I knew of George Clacton, but this really was something else. Despite it's namesake, I would liken this very much to something from the 1990s, specifically that Madchester/Acid sound that Primal Scream's Screamadelica managed so brilliantly. It came at a good time for me when I had quite a lot of concerns on my mind, so it was brilliant to have this wave of sounds that takes you on an endless fun ride. The chanted verses serving as an effective precursor to the bounding chorus which throws trumpets and piano hooks right at you with the lyrics tempting you further to 'jump right in'. My partying days are most often a thing of the past, but this is that rare song that would make me crave for them. The accompanying song, Take a Trip serves as a moodier, more sombre alternative that makes it what it says on the tin really - a trip back to that carefree past summer x

 

3. Night Tapes - drifting

 

It's easy to just say 'I sent this to BJSC and therefore this is why I like it', but actually with this one, I did feel more of a kinship with it that made it stick with me throughout the year - I even listened to the parent EP and while I didn't go as far as to go to a live event they were inviting fans to, it was nice to see a relatively small band become bigger as you see them, and it helps that the song is a real gem as well. A dreamy evolving synthwave song with the singer's dulcet tones and echoey production take you along on a gradual build to a full on synthy soundscape in the last few minutes. It was the perfect soundtrack to long walks and occasional sleepless nights and a year on, it is still drifting along in my memory.

 

2. Father John Misty – Screamland

 

This was close, honestly, I've not heard a song that I instantly love so much on morning radio possibly since The Last Man on Earth, yet there was that one song I liked that little bit more, but still it was pretty much a coinflip. I enjoyed what I knew of Father John Misty, he had a unique baroque and sophisticated style and I always like witty and poetic lyrics drawing on philosophy, but he was lacking that song that really made me sit up and take notice until now. Screamland is at it's heart a raw, huge expression of emotion, suitable of filling a stadium, with several sombre verses only accompanied by a lone piano, the chorus hits you with sheer power, it's designed to be sung out loud, and it gradually reveals its bells and whistles like gospel choirs and strings throughout it's seven minute runtime before ending abruptly. It is a truly stunning listen and the sheer power and emotion is enough to bring a tear to your eye, yet like all the best songs, there's layers there, the lyrics in the verses (though they need much longer than this single entry to analyse) are actually rather pessimistic in nature shown by the protagonist making a lot of self-sabotaging choices, which makes the triumphant and huge chorus feel bittersweet, especially 'get numb' accompanying 'stay young' and 'screamland' accompaying 'keep dreaming', this could well be intentional, as it was apparently written as a satire of 'Hillsong worship' which uses uplifting pop melodies with themes of hope and faith, in this case, the uplifting sound of the chorus is actually used as a mask for deeper unresolved struggles that are often masked with concepts like religion. It's a typically clever song from him that leaves you unsure how to interpret it, I personally choose to see it as at least a little bit of genuine hope amongst the doom and gloom, there's a hell of a lot of power put in to something so negative if not. Anyway, a stadium anthem that can make you think is a rare thing and it was an instant standout for me, it also allowed me a gateway his further exquisitely produced, existential ramblings of Mahashmashana, and the power still gets to me today, was certainly unlucky to come the same year as my number 1 (the BJSC win was nice as well x)

 

1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Wild God

 

So 6Music still proves to be a bit of a tastemaker at the top of my chart as these two mainstays of their playlist last year are my top 2. Much like FJM, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have been an artist I really love what I know of but haven't yet got round to checking them out in full. Cave's deep, forboding voice is just so powerful to make anything they release sound intense. Mercy Seat was one of my favourite discoveries from my 1001 songs... runthrough years back. So new material was always going to interest me and this certainly didn't disappoint, I knew they were capable of this rousing sound but Wild God's choir and strings exploding to life is still a chilling moment and as dark as Cave's voice can be, the power and optimism that radiates from it in the chorus is truly moving. In a typical storytelling way, the lyrics tell the story of what could be a spiritual being desperately searching for someone to believe in him, before 'bring your spirit down' ends as his final climactic plea to his people, so, is it as optimistic as it appears to be? Again much like the song before, possibly not, but it's impossible not to feel completely roused by the last two minutes where everything is thrown at the wall as the nation embraces whatever this God embodies, it's a gorgeous feeling of blind hope and resonates with me particularly as that bittersweet feeling of longing for something but just being happy in having that hope it will come. The album of the same name was wonderful too, it came at a hard time for me personally so songs like Long, Dark Night perhaps didn't land as well as they could've, but it's rousing and diverse blend of anthems made it a great listen. I cannot imagine how hard it has been for Cave with losing both of his sons tragically young such a short space of time between them, this work is one of a man that clearly has faced great sadness yet there is still that sliver of hope, and as you can tell with this and the song before it, that's really been what I'm into this year x

 

-x-

 

1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Wild God

2. Father John Misty – Screamland

3. Night Tapes - drifting

4. TV Girl & George Clacton – Summer 2000 Baby

5. Linkin Park – The Emptiness Machine/Heavy is the Crown

6. Nia Archives – Silence is Loud

7. Charli XCX feat. Lorde – Girl, So Confusing

8. Fat Dog – King of the Slugs

9. Roxanne de Bastion – UV

10. Bat For Lashes – Dream of Delphi

 

Whew, that's that, hope those that read found something they liked here, for the best I didn't do a top 40 with how long that took me :kink: Now to get back to my albums project x (yes I haven't forgotten!)

Nice to see "The Emptiness Machine", "Heavy is the Crown" and "Girl, So Confusing" in your list.

 

I still need to finish my list sometime.

:hi: I have been following along, fair at you deciding to change up the format this year, whatever you feel up to - happy you still put this together as our crossover is usually pretty good.

 

Starting off with... our AOTY and #1 film being the exact same *.* I wasn't expecting to love Billie's album so much as first single 'LUNCH' didn't particularly blow me away, but wow, that first listening experience ended up being really special. The opening track 'SKINNY' quickly let me know that it would feature vulnerable lyrics and beautiful production, with some interesting switch-ups along the way. Her best body of work to date for sure! I'm going to see the accompanying tour in July, can't wait <3 Poor Things was also an unforgettable first experience but in a completely different way :lol: loved the absurdity, sci-fi themes, powerful messaging, acting, soundtrack and world-building... no notes :clap: from the rest of those lists, I also really enjoyed Charli's album, The Zone of Interest, Dune Part 2, Wallace & Gromit, The Holdovers + All of Us Strangers <3 I need to catch-up on most of the Best Picture nominees this year oops, especially The Substance. Cool at you being on Letterboxd also, have considered signing up before but may be in too much of a lazy era myself, perhaps one day xx

 

These are my favourites from your song list:

 

50. Baby Lasagna – Rim Tim Tagi Dim - stupendously catchy and memorable Eurovision moment *.* obligatory "meow cat please meow back" mention x

47. Sadness – I Want to Be With You - omg Jadakissnia impact <3 pleased this clicked with you so much.

42. JADE – Angel of my Dreams - a bold debut from my namesake, looking forward to an album at some point.

41. Jamie xx feat. Robyn – Life - this was about 30 points off making my EOY, a v uplifting brassy dance sound in the spring/summer months <3

37. FKA Twigs – Eusexua - great to see this showing up here <3 would highly recommend her new album that's just come out, think you'll appreciate the trancey + experimental elements!

36. Charli xcx – Von Dutch - electroclash is a very welcome throwback sound *.*

34. Vitesse X – Eternal - good stuff, the accompanying album This Infinite is worth a listen too!

33. Chappell Roan – Good Luck Babe! - nothing short of perfect pop :heart: really looking forward to whatever she brings out next now that this song finally made me warm to her.

31. Tyler, the Creator – Noid - ooh cool to see this popping up! the accompanying album is pretty good although will take a lot for him to top IGOR <3

26. Bambie Thug – Doomsday Blue - still shook that this was an actual Irish entry, thrilled they did so well

25. Vampire Weekend – Capricorn - <3 <3 <3 what a stunner and the album did not disappoint whatsoever

24. English Teacher – R&B - cool BJSC entry and was chuffed about their Mercury win! they need to bring back the performances for the ceremony this year though :'(

23. Echoberyl – Weird Boy - 'Fade to Grey' is one of my all-time faves so was immediately hooked on this, need to give the album a go.

21. Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso - I didn't really get into the album as a whole but this song is an exception, incredibly hooky.

19. Ariana Grande – We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love) - <3 one of Ariana's best ever singles for me already, glad I finally checked out Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as it made me appreciate themes across the album more and in the beautiful music video.

18. Billie Eilish – CHIHIRO - was so excited for this song based on title alone and it did not disappoint, glad you rate it so much too.

17. Caroline Polachek feat. Weyes Blood – Butterfly Net - "two queens maximising their joint slay" as the OCC would say x

15. Magdalena Bay – Cry for Me - <3 glad this was such a favourite for you as well, was a bit of a slow burner for me but I got there and think it is stunning.

14. James K – Blinkmoth (July Mix) - thank you for sending this to BJSC, I had heard it in the Electronic track of the week polls but it didn't hit me properly until watching the video!

11. The Cure – Alone - they're one of my favourite bands so was eagerly anticipating new material and this was a triumphant return.

 

10. Bat For Lashes - The Dream of Delphi <3 love to see this in another list. I think it might've popped up in a playlist for me as well and was instantly mesmerised.

8. Fat Dog – King of the Slugs - this was such a standout 6Music find and later iconic BJSC winner - will probably go down as one of the best ever!

7. Charli xcx feat. Lorde – Girl, so confusing - this is another one like 'Life' that was close to making my EOY but didn't quite sneak in, still really good though, the Lorde feature was genius

4. TV Girl & George Clanton – Summer 2000 Baby - agreed this is very 90s despite the title :lol: would recommend 'Butterflies' if you haven't got around to the whole project!

3 - Night Tapes - drifting - fitting that bronze on this podium got my 13 in BJSC *.*

... speaking of BJSC, this was a strong winner: 2. Father John Misty – Screamland

 

Enjoyed reading your top 10 thoughts + I'll be sure to check out some stuff that I don't know (+ revisit your #1 with that added context) - the description of 'UV' is especially intriguing me.

 

[/walloftext] :P

 

Edit: omg just noticed the George Clacton typo - Chez Farage stan exposed :mellow: xx

The remix of Girl, so confusing was undoubtedly one of the pop music moments of the year, taking a great song and elevating it further with Lorde's incredible verse!

Funnily enough both of the artists in your top 2 appear also in my EOY, but with different songs! I like both of those in yours too, and enjoyed your commentaries throughout this.